Device for removing covers from paint cans and the like



R. E. NICOT April 5, 1960 DEVICE FOR REMOVING COVERS FROM PAINT CANS ANDTHE LIKE Filed Nov. 26, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ralph fiwd,

AT TORNEYS April 5, 1960 R. E. NlCOT 2,931,259

DEVICE FOR REMOVING COVERS FROM PAINT CANS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 26,1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR.

Ralph E.N1c0f,

April 5, 1960 R. E NICOT 2,931,259

DEVICE FOR REMOVING COVERS FROM PAINT CANS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 26,1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 23 E4- E? E INVEAZTOR KaJpb EJVJCOi,

ATTORNEYS.

Unite DEVICE FOR REMOVING COVERS FROM PAINT CANS AND THE LIKE Thisinvention relates to a new and useful device for removing the coversfrom paint and other cans and for use as a stirring paddle and the like.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a combination coverremoving device and stirring paddle, usable for these and otherpurposes, which is simple and relatively inexpensive in constructionwhile being durable and dependable in operation.

I am aware that devices of this general nature are known, but believethat the device of my invention offers certain important advantages overthe prior art in terms of ease of manufacture and assembly, facility ofoperation, and cheapness in cost. Indeed, it is contemplated that adevice of my invention will find great demand as a give-away item forpaint and hardware stores, and the like.

A cover removing device constructed in accord with my invention ischaracterized by the provision of a bandle member, and a leverattachment on one end of the handle member, the attachment completelyencircling the handle'member in sung-fitting relation and having a mainbody portion, opposite side portions integral with the main body portionand extending laterally around the handle member, and a lip portionintegral with the main body portion and extending beyond the end of thehandle member for engaging beneath the cover, with the opposite sideportions of the attachment lying in side-by-side relation lengthwise ofthe handle and having inturned extremities engaging the handle memberand securing the attachment in place.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and characterizing featuresof a device constructed in accord with my invention will become clearlyapparent from the ensuing detailed description of two presentlypreferred embodiments thereof, which embodiments are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein likereference numerals denote like parts throughout the various views andwherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of one embodiment of an assembled deviceconstructed in accord with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lever attachment portion thereof, beforethe same is folded and applied to the handle member;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the attachment portion alone, as it appearsafter being applied to the handle member;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken about on line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to that of Fig. l but showing anotherembodiment of my invention;

Fig. 8 is a view of the embodiment of Fig. 7 similar to the view of Fig.6, but with the handle membe omitted for ease of illustration; 7 V "Fig.9 is a view of the embodiment of Fig. 7 corresponding to the view ofFig. 4;

d tates Patent G Fig. 10 is a view of the embodiment of Fig. 7corresponding to the view of Fig 5; and

Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 are generally schematic, fragmentary, sectionalviews depicting illustrative types of cans and covers with which thedevice of my invention is adapted to be used.

Referring now to the embodiment of Figs. l-6, my invention comprises anelongated slat or paddle 1, forming a handle member, on one end of whichis secured the lever attachment of my invention, generally designated 2.The handle member 1 preferably is made of wood, because of its low costand relatively light weight, although other materials penetrable by thematerial of lever attachment 2 could be used.

The lever attachment 2 is most conveniently fabricated from a piece ofsheet metal, being initially formed in flat condition as illustrated inFigs. 2 and 3. It will be observed that the attachment 2 comprises amain body portion 3 having side Wing portions 4 extending laterally fromthe opposite sides thereof and a lip portion 5 extending from one endthereof. The side portions 4 are in the form of isosceles triangles,inverted with respect to one another, each having one leg 6 defined bythe side edge of main body portion 3, and another leg 7 compris ing acontinuation of one of the opposite ends of the main body portion. Theother side edge or leg 8 of each side portion 4 extends from the outerend of leg 7 to the opposite end of the main body portion 3.

The foregoing construction of side portions 4 is important, because whenlever attachment 2 is assembled on handle member 1 the main body portion3 lies against one face thereof, and the opposite side portions 4 arefolded at right angles along legs 6 and lie against the opposite facethereof. The formation of the side portions enables them to lie flatagainst the handle member in side-by-side relation lengthwise thereofWithout overlapping. The main body portion is bent at right angles alongfold lines 9, to provide portions 10 which lie against the opposite sideedges of handle member 1.

It will be observed from Fig. 1 that lever attachment 2 completelyencircles handle member 1 in snug-fitting relation thereto, so that Whenassembled the two become as one, and the pointed extremities 11 of sideportions 4 are inturned and penetrate the Wood material of handle member1 to lock attachment 2 in place thereon with lip portion 5 extending orprojecting beyond the end of handle member 1 for engaging beneath thecovers of paint or grease cans, or the like. Because of the formationand arrangement of side portions 4, the anchoring extremities 11 extendbeyond the mid-point of handle member 1, providing a strong anchorage.

Therefore, the handle member 1 and lever attachment 2 together provide adevice which is readily manipulated to remove the covers of paint cansand the like, and which thereafter can be used to stir paint, ladlegrease, or for other purposes, all in a device which is extremelyinexpensive to produce and which can be thrown away after one use, ifdesired, while at the same time being durable enough so that it can beused again and again.

To facilitate the insertion of lip portion 5 beneath the edge of acover, it is preferably bevelled, as illustrated at 12, to provide achisel edge. Also, while the device is quite strong by virtue of thesnug-fitting, encircling relation of lever attachment 2 to handle member1, if desired reinforcing means can be added, comprising in theembodiment of Figs. 1-6 embossed corrugations 13 on the main bodyportion extending into lip portion 5. These corrugations are alinedlengthwise of handle member 1 and function as reinforcing ribs impartingconsiderable added rigidity to the device when used for its intendedpurposes.

Lip portion 5' is distinguished from the generally convex lip formationof Figs. l-6 by comprising a projecting blade of generally rectangularconfiguration in plan view,

7 terminating preferably in a beveled chisel type edge 12'.

Also,'instead of being corrugated, reinforcing ribs are provided in theform of embossments 13 running lengthwise of the handle, member onopposite sides of a centrally disposed, much wider and deeper embossment13".

The embossment 13" has a width several times that of embossments 13',and extends into lip portion 5' substantially to the edge 12", forreinforcing the same in use.

It is contemplated that the embodiment of Figs. 1-6 will find particularutility in removing the covers of cans of one gallon size or smaller,whereas the embodiment of Figs. 7-10 will be particularly useful withlarger cans having covers overlapping the can, although neitherembodiment is necessarily so limited in utility. Also the device of myinvention is useful for purposes other than those herein specificallyreferred to, such as for example loosening hardened paint pigment on thebottom of the can.

By way of example, Figs. 11 through 14 illustrate various conventionaltypes of cans, the covers of which are adapted to be removed by thedevice of my invention. In Fig. 11, the can body 20 supports a groovedrim 21, with which a cover 22 has a pressure fit, the cover being resaidhandle member in snug-fitting relation thereto and having a main bodyportion, opposite side portions inte- I gral with said main body portionand extending laterally thereof around said handle member, and a lipportion integral with said main body portion and extending therefrombeyond said one end of said handle member, said opposite side portionslying in side-by-side relation lengthwise of said handle member andhaving inturned moved by inserting the lip 5 or 5 of my device betweenthe outer edge 23 of the cover and the outer edge portbn 24 of the rim.In Fig. 12, the dished cover 25 has a pressure fit with the can body 25,and is removed by inserting the lip 5 or 5' between the adjacent edgeformations 2'7 and 28 of the cover and body, respectively. In Fig. 13,the can body 29 supports a neck 30, the upper edge 31 of which carries agasket 32. A cover 33 seats on gasket 32 and is held in place by a rim34. The can is opened by inserting the lip 5 or 5' first between thedepending flange formation 35 of rim 34 and the upper edge 36 of body29, and then between the depending flange formation 37 of cover 33 andthe can body edge 36. In Fig. 14, a gasket 38 seats on the upper edge 39of the can body 40, and the cover 41 seats thereon and has dependinglugs 42 engaging beneath the rolled edge 39. The lugs 42 are aperturedat 43. The lip 5' can be inserted between the lugs 42 and the can body40, to remove the cover, but preferably it will be inserted in theapertures 43, with the handle generally upright, using the cover edge asa fulcrum. Thus, cans or containers of the type illustrated in Figs. 11,12, 13 and 14 are readily opened by the embodiment of Figs. 7 through10, and containers of the type illustrated in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 arereadily opened by the embodiment of Figs. 1 through 6, it beingunderstood that these are standard types of containers forming per se nopart of my invention, and that the device of my I invention is usefulfor opening still other types of con tainers as well as for otherpurposes.

Accordingly, it is seen that my invention fully accomplishes itsintended objects, and while only two presently preferred embodimentshave been illustrated and de-' scribed in detail herein, it will beappreciated that my invention is not necessarily limited thereto.Variations thereof and modifications therein will occur to those skilledin the art, all without departing from the spirit of my invention andthe scope of the appended claims.

Having fully disclosed and completely described my invention, and itsmode of operation, what I claim as new is:

1. A device of the class described comprising, a handle member, and alever attachment on said handle member at one end thereof, saidattachment completely encircling extremities engaging said handle memberand securing said attachment in place thereon.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, together with reinforcing rib meansalinedgenerally lengthwise'of said handle member and extending alongsaid main body portion into said lip portion.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said main body portion hasembossed corrugations spaced thereacross and alined generally lengthwiseof said handle member to provide reinforcing rib means. 1

r 4. A device as set forth in claim 1, together with mul' tipleelongated embossments on said mainbody portion to comprise reinforcingrib means, said embossments being alined generally lengthwise of saidhandle member and spaced apart widthwise thereof with at least one ofsaid embossments extending into said lip portion.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the width of said one ofsaid embossments is severaltimes that of the others thereof.

6. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lip portion has abevelled forward edge. 7

7. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lip portion has agenerally convex forward edge formation extending substantially thewidth of said main body portion.

8. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lip portion comprisesa projecting blade of substantially less width than said main bodyportion.

9. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said handle member is madeof wood, said lever attachment is made of metal, and said inturnedextremities are pointed and extend into the wood ofsaid handle member.

10. A lever attachment for a wooden paddle or like handle membercomprising, a metal member having a main body portion, side portions ofsubstantially isosceles triangular form extending from opposite sides ofsaid main body portion in inverted relation to each other, and a lipportion on said main body portion, the corresponding sides of said sideportions being generally parallel to each other, one side of one of saidside portions being generally alined with one end of said main bodyportion and said lip portion projecting from the other end of said mainbody portion beyond' the corresponding side of the other of said sideportions. I

11. A device of the class described comprising, a handle member, and alever attachment on said handle memportions integral with said main bodyportion and extending laterally thereof around said handle member, and alip portion integral with said main body portion and extending therefrombeyond said one end of said handle member, said opposite side portionslying in side-b'y-side relation lengthwise of said handle member andhaving inturned anchoring portions engaging said handle membet andsecuring said attachment in place thereon.

References Cited-in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSGermany Oct. 8, 1951

